Jehoshaphat & Fearing God - 2 Chronicles 20:1-4

1 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. 2 Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. (2 Chronicles 20:1–4 )

     2 Chronicles 20 is one of those accounts in the Scripture that simply begs to be spiritualized. But we need to take care that in our zeal to see and apply the truths that are here, we do not lose the very real facts that are here as well. Verse one interviews is Austin these facts with the phrase "It happened after this...". The "After this" that chapter 20 is speaking of are the reforms that Jehoshaphat put in place toward the end of his kingship. If they were real, then the events of Chapter 20 are real as well.
     We're told that Moab went to battle against Jehoshaphat. History tells us that they went under the leadership of Mesha who had gained Moab's independence from the Omri dynasty of Israel soon after Ahab died. The battle mentioned here took place when Ahab's son, Ahaziah was king of Israel. The defeat of Jehoshaphat's enemies in Israel only meant the rise of other enemies outside of Israel. We should understand this situation would be a test of Jehoshaphat's faith.
     Both Moab and Ammon, of course were the offspring Lot by means of the illicit relationship with his daughters after the destruction of Sodom. There were located to the east of the Jordan River and in the area what, to the south, was known as Edom (named for the offspring of Esau, Jacob's brother of course). The area was extremely rough and rugged, it was a common route for those who were enemies and would attack Israel, as it provided a lot of cover and invisibility for those attacking.
     In verse two some come to Jehoshaphat and they tell him that a "great multitude" is coming against him from beyond the sea. Some manuscripts have the word "Syria" but it is plain from the majority of texts that this is a reference to Ammon and Moab and others on the other side of the Jordan River. The word multitude is a word that refers to an abundance, a large amount or quantity of objects which is much greater than needed. The word is used in Jeremiah 49:32 where we read "...the cattle shall be for booty and a multitude of their cattle for plunder..." It's talking about a large group of cattle. They're from wars and they are spoil from those wars, far more than was needed. By application, the idea here is that there are far more of all of these invaders that would be necessary to overcome Israel.
     Understandably, verse 3 tells us that Jehoshaphat is moved by the circumstances "to fear". What is interesting is that the word for "fear" normally means of course "to be frightened" in some form of the hide under the bed fashion. Now, as with any word, this word has a number of different "shades" of meaning. Depending on the tense and context in which it is used, it can mean different things. Normally, in its most basic sense, it means, of course, "to be frightened" that is, to be in a state of feeling great distress or be concerned of pain of some unfavorable circumstance.
     For instance in Genesis 3:10 when Adam is confronted by God in the garden after he had partaken of the forbidden fruit he responds to God by saying: "I heard Your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself". Most of the other uses and forms of this verb carry that shade of meaning in one way or another.
     However, this particular usage here in 2 Chronicles 20:3 is a bit different. Here, this form means to revere, to venerate or to show a profound respect for one that borders on fear of that object. It is one of the Old Testament words that is used for godly fear. Leviticus 19:32 uses this verb "you shall rise before the grey headed in honor of the presence of a old man, and fear your God: I and the Lord."
     We should remember at this point that a part of what has prompted Jehoshaphat to fear the Lord is the warning of Jehu the Prophet who went out to meet him and said to him in chapter 19 verse 2. "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you." The prophet was rebuking Jehoshaphat because of his alliances, remember, Jehoshaphat had entered into an alliance with God's enemy, Ahab (1 Kings 22:2), yet there was mercy mangled in with that wrath because the king's concern personally and nationally for true worship of God. At the end of that chapter Jehoshaphat makes great reforms and generally "straightened himself out" before the Lord and improves his standing before God.
     But there is no doubt that this was on Jehoshaphat mind as he heroes of this overwhelming mass of enemies standing ready to invade his land. Realistically, home who would not have this on their mind as they stood, representative of their entire people and land, and face such a matter?
     But Jehoshaphat responds wonderfully! In verse 3 the Scripture tells us that he "set himself to seek the Lord" and also "proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah". What better example can we have or godliness for a leader, at whatever level, then this? Personal godliness, and then a call for national godliness as well. They were in a situation that only God could rescue them from, Jehoshaphat knew that, and so he turns to the only One Who could secure their safety. He knew that God would not respond to his prayers if he was not what he needed to be. He wanted to be certain that his people feared the Lord and he knew that his personal example of fearing God was the best way to see that they would fear God also.
     And so he calls for a national fast one that involved himself, his people and even the children! There is no other way to see to it that gods favor arrests upon you, upon your family, or upon your nation. But we'll talk more about this later...